You can order brain tanned deer hides direct from the tanners here at
Traditional Tanners. We sell only genuine brain tan. We guarantee not only
100% satisfaction, but that these will be some of the best hides you'll ever
see. Our customers include a wide variety of American Indian tribes,
historic re-enactors, outdoorsmen and craftspeople.

We have worn, used and sold brain tan for 15 years and have a very good
understanding of what size and thickness of skin works best for various
projects. When you give us a call at 888 Hide-Tan (888 443-3826) and tell us
what you need we will use that experience to select the best possible hides
for your project. If they aren't perfect, return them at our expense (we've
had 3 returned of the 1000+ we've sold). We strive to always have a good
supply of tanned hides in stock, so that we can send them out to you
immediately. Larger projects and more specific requests will often require
some lead time.

For more information, click a hide type
below.

Deer are the most versatile and most widely used hide. They come in a wide
variety of thicknesses, and have a very strong, durable fiber structure; yet
are extremely soft.

Elk hides are about twice as large as deer and usually thicker. They are
excellent for any project that requires a large swath of material (such as
coats).

Moose hides have the size and thickness of elk, but with the durable
fiber structure of deer, making them ideal for moccasins.

Prime buffalo hides with plush winter wool make a stunning and
comfortable addition to your home or lodge.

Caribou hides are a little larger than deer and typically thin-skinned.

Antelope is thin, small fibered and surprisingly strong. They are our favorite for summer clothes.

Water Drum covers cost $75 ea and are 16" circles free of
knife marks and weak spots. We also sell whole hides that you can cut drum
covers from.

Quillwork on dark brain-tan, by Pam Fry. A lot of Iroquois and
Great Lakes quillwork was done on very dark brain tan. We've
prepared hides for this by dyeing them with black walnut
hulls. The color ranges from milk chocolate (like this bag) to
nearly black. Walnut dyed hides darken considerably more with age
and exposure to light.

Penny Thornley with a pipe bag made from a hide smoked
'golden'.

Some 'golden brown' hides on display at an event.

Two 'dew-claw' bags from hides smoked a golden to golden brown.

John McCoy in Colonial era brain tanned center-seam
moccasins.

Michelle Richards in a contemporary buckskin
dress. The yoke is smoked brown and the body of the dress is
golden.

This brain tanned 'shield' was painted with
acrylics by Penny Thornley.